Owners of 2007 and 2008 model-year Acura TL sedans will soon receive a letter asking them to bring their car in for repairs to a defective steering hose. It has been found that over time, the hoses can deteriorate, which can cause the cars to leak fluid or even start a fire. In 2008, Honda recalled 273,000 Acura TLs for a similar problem.

If you are having issues with the power steering on an Acura TL or experiencing any other problems with the vehicle, please visit Krohn & Moss, Ltd. at yourlemonlawrights.com or call them toll free at 1-800-US Lemon (800-875-3666). A consumer attorney will review your submission and contact you right away to discuss your rights.

Krohn & Moss, Ltd. was founded in 1995 and has helped over 50,000 consumers nationwide to enforce their lemon law rights against automobile manufacturers and distributors of other consumer products.

Chrysler Group is recalling some 127,350 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles in the United States and Canada due to potential problems in electrical stability control and anti-lock braking systems, the company and U.S. safety regulators said.

Chrysler, majority owned by Fiat SpA, said it was not aware of any crashes, injuries or fires due to the issue.

The recall affects cars from the 2011-2012 model years and produced through Dec. 20, 2011, according to a company filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A fuse in the power distribution center in the vehicles may overheat and cause loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash, the filing said.

Chrysler will fix the issue without charge. Recall notices will go out this month.

The problem surfaced in testing of a vehicle used as a police car in Michigan, and Chrysler then checked for the same issue with consumer-driven cars, the filing said.

The maker of the affected system is Global Automotive Systems, which is part of Dura Automotive Systems based in Rochester Hills, Mich., the filing said.

The recall affects an estimated 119,072 cars in the United States and 8,274 in Canada.

Source: Chicagotribune.com

Once you’ve made the decision to purchase a used vehicle, it’s important to know how to protect yourself under lemon law type laws. The lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. suggest the following things when selecting a used vehicle:

• BUY A “CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED” CAR!

Certified pre-owned vehicles are typically inspected to make sure they meet certain manufacturer specifications, and usually come with a warranty or guarantee that the vehicle will perform in a certain way or that the vehicle will be repaired if something is goes wrong with it.

• BUY A CAR THAT IS BETWEEN 1 AND 3 YEARS OLD!

If you can, purchase a vehicle that is still under the factory warranty—it will be cheaper than a new vehicle and you will have some peace of mind in driving it off the lot knowing that defects should be repaired under the warranty. Most cars these days come with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty, but always check with the dealer to learn the terms of the written warranty.

• NEGOTIATE FOR A WRITTEN WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER ON YOUR OWN!

If the vehicle you’ve selected is not “certified” and is outside the manufacturer’s warranty, ask the dealership to issue a written warranty. Most aspects of a car sale are negotiable, and if you obtain a warranty on the vehicle (even if it is only 3 months long), you can rest a little easier in knowing that the dealer will stand behind its product.

The common thread here is that all of these used vehicles mentioned above come with warranties. “Lemon laws” and related laws are actually “breach of warranty” laws—

without a written warranty on your vehicle, you assume the risk of repairs and are usually not afforded protection under lemon laws.

You may have rights under other consumer protection laws if a major misrepresentation about the vehicle was made, e.g. if it was involved in an accident or has a salvage title and that information was not disclosed, even if you do not have a warranty. If you have questions about whether you have rights regarding your vehicle, you should call the experienced lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Our lemon law attorneys will take time to talk to you about your rights and will let you know if they can help. Visit www.YOURLEMONLAWRIGHTS.com or call 1-800-US-LEMON to submit your information to see if we can help.

- Adam Maxwell, Attorney at Law

Have you purchased a “new” Chevrolet Volt only to later find out that it had already been sold and is actually a “used” car?  Did you pay a new car price for that “used” Volt?  Further, since you were not the first purchaser, were you denied the right to take advantage of the $7,500 tax credit available to Volt purchasers?  Much to General Motors’ chagrin, some Chevrolet dealers are selling the fuel efficient Volt to other dealers or to a shell corporation owned by the dealership in order to claim the tax credit for themselves.  Once the dealership receives the tax credit for themselves, they then sell the vehicle, which is now a used car according to the title, to the consumer without disclosing the prior sale or the potential tax credit the consumer is missing out on.  

If you have purchased a “new” Volt and think you may have been defrauded by the dealer, please call Krohn & Moss, Ltd. at 1-800-875-3666 to discuss your rights. Krohn & Moss, Ltd. has been protecting consumers’ rights for over 16 years and has successfully resolved over 35,000 cases.

Have you purchased a “new” Chevrolet Volt only to later find out that it had already been sold and is actually a “used” car?  Did you pay a new car price for that “used” Volt?  Further, since you were not the first purchaser, were you denied the right to take advantage of the $7,500 tax credit available to Volt purchasers?  Much to General Motors’ chagrin, some Chevrolet dealers are selling the fuel efficient Volt to other dealers or to a shell corporation owned by the dealership in order to claim the tax credit for themselves.  Once the dealership receives the tax credit for themselves, they then sell the vehicle, which is now a used car according to the title, to the consumer without disclosing the prior sale or the potential tax credit the consumer is missing out on.  

If you have purchased a “new” Volt and think you may have been defrauded by the dealer, please call Krohn & Moss, Ltd. at 1-800-875-3666 to discuss your rights. Krohn & Moss, Ltd. has been protecting consumers’ rights for over 16 years and has successfully resolved over 35,000 cases.

The average age for cars on US roads is 9.4 years for cars and 7.6 years for trucks. For a car consumer durability and brand loyalty mean the most and they go hand-in-hand to increase the roadworthy years of a car. Reliability and durability are the deciding factors that make an automobile desirable.

A latest vehicle dependability study shows how important reliability is the factor that puts the following car brands sold in the US on the forefront for the greatest general dependability:

• The top most dependable cars: Buick and Jaguar
• Lexus, Toyota and Mercury are in the top five
• Suzuki Volkswagen and Land Rover were the last three brands on the list

To determine the most dependable vehicles on the road today, the first owners of three-year-old cars were asked to report in eight categories, the type of problems the vehicles developed over the previous year for:

• Driving experience
• Engine
• Exterior
• Features/controls
• Heating/ventilating/cooling
• Interior
• Seats
• Audio/entertainment/navigation

Final rankings were based on the problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) score. The lower are the scores the higher is the quality of the vehicle.
The top most dependable cars are as the following:

• According to the senior automotive engineer for Consumer Reports, Lexus is reliable, very luxurious and comfortable, with the latest technology
• Toyota's reputation for both reliability and Eco-mindedness makes it highly valued by consumers, according to the New York-based market research company
• The LS 430 sedan scores 61 PP100, the lowest of any model in the study
• The Lexus SC 430, a $66,805 coupe, scored below 100  and beat the Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette in the premium sporty car category
• Consumer Reports ranked the LS 460 sedan the best overall vehicle of 2009
• GM’s Buick is a routine leader in dependability studies and ranked among the top 10 names since 2003

During the purchase of a car, what really matter is its reliability and ownership cost  making it a 'real world' picture of car ownership. A car that does not let down its owner is important to every motorist.
There are two major factors that influence one's version of reliability:

• How often it goes for repairs
• How much it costs you to fix it

A car could break down five times, but only cost you $50 each time to fix, or it could break down once and cost you $1,000.

Car accidents are unforeseen mishaps that can adversely affect automobile/s and people involved. They can critically impact one or more automobiles, people, or structures. Car accidents are often referred to as traffic accidents, auto accidents, road accidents, road traffic accidents or RTA's. RTA's are reported to have caused thousands of fatalities and hundreds of thousands of disabilities each year. According to 2002 statistics, an estimated one million people were killed every year in car accidents, worldwide.

Collisions can occur with other automobiles and vehicles, with pedestrians and with stationary structures or objects, such as trees or road signs. In a collision between two cars, the occupants of a car with the lower mass are likely to suffer the greater damage.

Safety Technology in Your Car That can Save Your Life

Majority of these car crashes/accidents are avoidable and car makers are spending huge fortunes trying to invent foolproof safety systems that alert the driver of road hazards by modifying his distracted driving that can be otherwise dangerous to himself and to others on the road.

Some of the latest safety technology systems that can prevent you from getting into an accident are as the following:

• The Drowsiness detector system: The drowsiness detector system has series of sensors and they continuously monitor different parameters in the driver's body to detect drowsiness in him. If the attention assist  detects drowsiness a 'Time for a rest' message appears on the dashboard and a bell is sounded to alert the driver of his drowsiness
• The  Blind-spot detection system: The blind-spot detection system is an extension of the radar technology that alerts the driver to a vehicle in his blind spot. Blind-spot detection alerts the driver by illuminating an icon in the side view mirror. It also sounds a chime
• The Collision Warning with Brake Assist system: The collision warning with brake assist system is an adaptive cruise control that helps a driver in  avoiding rear-end collision. The radar sensors in this collision warning system with brake assist detects slower-moving vehicles ahead, and sends a visual signal and an audible warning to alert the driver. If the driver fails to react quickly enough, the system activates brakes automatically
• The  Heads-Up Display Enhanced system: A next-generation heads-up display system is now being developed which combines the use of navigation, night vision and lasers to illuminate the road in low visibility. Infrared cameras in the vehicle locate the edge of the road, highlights animals, pedestrians or speed limit signs and lasers images onto the windshield
• Inflatable Seat Belts: Inflatable seat belts aim at protecting rear-seat occupants better. When crash sensors detect an impact, an air bag inside the seat belt gets filled with cold compressed air and bursts through the belt fabric. This way the inflatable seat belts help distribute the force over a wider area, over the passenger's torso to reduce the impact
• The  Lane Keeping Assist system: The lane keeping assist system keeps drivers from drifting into the next lane. A camera inside the front windshield recognizes lane markings and if it detects any lane departure the steering wheel vibrates to alert the drive
• The Pedestrian Detection system: A radar system warns drivers if it detects a pedestrian in front of the car, and automatically brakes if the driver fails to respond quickly enough. It first sounds an alert along with flashes of light in the windshield’s head-up display. It can avoid a collision with pedestrians at speeds up to about 22 mph. At higher speeds, this radar system can remarkably minimize the severity of the impact
• The Traffic Jam Cam: The traffic jam cam is a mobile application available on iTunes for around three dollars as hand-held portable device but will be integrated directly into vehicles soon. The traffic jam cam lets users see current traffic conditions on highways and major roadways directly unlike the erstwhile time-delayed radio traffic reports
• The Rear Traffic Crossing system: Large vehicles can block the view of a driver when he is reversing from a parking lot. This rear traffic crossing system is activated any time a car is in reverse and alerts the driver of traffic crossing behind the vehicle. This rear traffic crossing system uses illuminated icons on the side view mirror and sounds a chime too
• The Wrong Way Driver: Through the car's navigation system, this safety technology sends alerts by sound and optical warnings if it detects that a driver is about to join a road in a wrong direction. If the motorist fails to heed the alerts, it warns the other drivers of the potential danger. This safety technology accomplishes this task through a map on their navigation systems via a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication system

      If you install some or all of this safety technology in your car, you can always arrive at your destination safe. However, the best safety technology still is the good old habit of safe driving.

Under the California lemon law a manufacturer is required to repurchase or replace a vehicle if:

• It has a defect or condition that was reported to the manufacturer or dealer
• The defect or condition continues to exist even after a reasonable number of repairs
• It is still under the manufacturer’s warranty

A vehicle is presumed to be subject to a reasonable number of repair attempts if:

• The same nonconformity that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury has been subject to repair two or more times
• The same nonconformity has been subject to repairs, four or more times
• The vehicle has been out of service for a cumulative 30 calendar days
• The repair attempts have been made within 18 months from delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever occurs first

     Under the California lemon law, if a manufacturer fails to fix the same problem/s in a vehicle after a reasonable number of repair attempts, he must concede the choice of the consumer by either replacing the vehicle or by refunding it.

     When Taking Your Car in for Warranty Service, keep an eye open for the Content of the Repair Order that goes into their computer. The Automobile manufacturer has a strategy to hoodwink you and the California lemon law presumptions by manipulating your complaint on a nonconformity.

Let us see how he does it:

The Automobile manufacturer can ruin the chances of your California lemon law claim by making changes in the language on the repair orders. If your vehicle has started showing transmission problems and you choose to bring it in immediately, say for hard shifting. The dealer’s service writer puts it down religiously on the repair order in his computer. This computer actually has a “flag system” that works whenever you bring your vehicle in for warranty service for the same problem. On your second visit for the same hard shifting issue, your vehicle gets “flagged” on this computer to alert the dealer's technician and service writer about the potential lemon law claim in the offing.

The service writer learns that he is dealing with a dangerous vehicle that may any time after this visit drag the Automobile manufacturer to the court for a California lemon law claim. As a result, either on the same visit of yours or on the next he would choose not to record your complaint for hard shifting. He might choose to write something different. The dealer’s service writer might choose a 'gas pedal sticking' or 'an engine over-rev' for the problem on your second visit, the one after that and the one after that.

Sick with this recalcitrant problem you may choose to file your California lemon law claim after five or six repair attempts for 'hard shifting'. When it is time to submit your service order copies which you have treasured for so long, you will discover that it has only one or two repair orders that mention 'hard shifting' and the rest are of some remote problems you never dreamt of. This whole episode can turn the tables in favor of your car manufacturer. The car manufacturer would argue that he never had enough repair attempts for the nonconformity, pulling a wet rag on your California lemon law claim.

How are you going to protect yourself against this kind of manipulation?

Ensure that YOUR description of the problem appears on the repair order by following the steps:

• Write out your complaints before you go to the dealership. Type your own description of the problems on a computer
• Copy and present it to the service writer
• Insist on their attaching your written complaints to the repair order

     This should entirely remove the opportunity for the service writer to write his own version of the repair order. Keep copies of all the repair orders you placed in the hands of the service writer.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as legal advice. Please direct your specific questions to K&M attorneys and know more about your lemon law rights. If you want to pursue your lemon law claim, call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation. Or submit your information online for your free case evaluation.

For 20 years now, the Florida Lemon Law program has evolved as a model for consumer protection efforts for other states and even other countries to follow. Consumers in Florida can count on the Florida Lemon Law program if their new car turns out to be a lemon. $376 million in relief alone shows the value of this free consumer service as the Florida Lemon Law Arbitration program. With a few exceptions, a previously titled vehicle (used car) is not covered by the Florida Lemon Law.

The Florida Lemon Law program DOES NOT COVER

• Used Cars
• Vehicles that run only on tracks
• Off-road vehicles
• Trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
• Motorcycles and mopeds
• The living facilities of recreational vehicles

The Florida Lemon Law applies to new or demonstrator motor vehicles which are sold or leased in the State of Florida.

The nonconformity in your vehicle that entitles you to the Florida Lemon Law protection:

A substantial defect or condition is a problem that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. Minor or trivial defects, or defects caused by accident, abuse, neglect, modification or alteration by anyone other than an authorized service agent are not covered.

There must be three repair attempts for the same defect or condition, OR at least 15 cumulative calendar days out of service for one or more defects or conditions, before submitting the Motor Vehicle Defect Notification (MVDN). If you have either at least three failed repair attempts for the same problem or at least 15 cumulative calendar days out of service, you must file the MVDN by registered mail, return receipt requested to the manufacturer to give the manufacturer a final repair attempt or inspection on your vehicle.
 
If your complaint is based on the vehicle being out of service for 15 or more days the manufacturer or its authorized agent has the opportunity to inspect or repair the vehicle. If the vehicle still does not conform to the warranty for a total of 30 or more days and the manufacturer has had the opportunity to repair, you are entitled to request arbitration.
The Florida Lemon Law gives manufacturers a reasonable number of chances to repair substantial defects in a motor vehicle.

If manufacturers fail to do so, they are required to

• Buy back the defective vehicle
• Pay a refund to the consumer
• Provide a replacement vehicle

Consumers are protected under the Lemon Law for 24 months after the date of delivery of the vehicle. Anyone who experiences problems with a new vehicle during that period should immediately take the vehicle to the manufacturer's authorized dealer.

If you put the manufacturer on notice for the defects or conditions, the manufacturer has 10 days from receipt of the MVDN to respond and direct you to a reasonable accessible repair facility to have a final repair attempt or inspection on your vehicle.  If you receive no response from the manufacturer within 10 days after the date of receipt, the law states the manufacturer has then waived his right to the final repair attempt and you may proceed with your Florida Lemon Law rights.

Since 1988, Florida's Lemon Law unit has handled 20,178 cases. The total dollar value of the recoveries is $376,156,729 with additional cases pending. The Florida Lemon Law Program has been so successful that representatives from Japan, Great Britain and Australia have sought information from Florida to assist with their efforts to develop lemon laws in those countries.

Florida's Lemon Law Arbitration Program is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Florida's Lemon Law Arbitration Program has excelled a $376 million mark in refunds and replacements for consumers who unwittingly bought defective vehicles. Over the past 20 years, the Florida Lemon Law program has produced refunds or replacement vehicles for more than 14,000 consumers.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as legal advice. Please direct your specific questions to K&M attorneys and know more about your lemon law rights. If you want to pursue your lemon law claim, call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation. Or submit your information online for your free case evaluation.

In Indiana, state law provides legal protection in the form of lemon laws to help you if you purchase a used car that turns out to have serious defects. The Indiana lemon law sets standards that sellers must follow if the vehicles sold by them are found to have defects.

The Indiana Legislature established the Indiana lemon law or the Motor Vehicle Protection Act, in 1988.

• The Indiana lemon law protects buyers of new and used vehicles in Indiana
• The Indiana lemon law protects anyone who leases a vehicle under a written agreement
• The lemon law protects consumers by providing them with safeguards against anyone selling a car that has serious defects

The Indiana lemon law applies to warrantied vehicles that

• Weigh less than 10,000 pounds
• Registered in Indiana 
• Used on public highways and other roads
• Require registration or licensing before use

The Indiana lemon law does not cover conversion vans, motor homes, farm tractors, snowmobiles, motorcycles or ATVs.

The Indiana lemon law requires:

• The manufacturers to repair, replace or repurchase a vehicle sold to the consumer if it has defects that substantially impair the use, market value or safety
• Consumers to take their vehicles to the dealer or seller to report the problem and request repairs as soon as possible

The Indiana lemon law allows a buyer a limited amount of time to make a lemon law claim on a vehicle that is within 18,000 miles or 18 months from the date of the delivery of the vehicle. The Indiana lemon law protects a consumer if he has first requested for repairs within the set period of the 18-month period.

The Indiana lemon law allows the seller or the manufacturer another chance of repairing the vehicle which means that the Indiana lemon law provides for 'a reasonable number of repair attempts'. According to the Indiana lemon law, the 'reasonable number' is four. The Indiana lemon law allows 30 business days for repairs. The Indiana lemon law requires the seller or manufacturer to provide the buyer with an alternative vehicle while the vehicle is subjected to repairs.

According to the Indiana lemon law, if the issue persists even after the reasonable number of repairs, the seller or manufacturer must buy back the vehicle or provide a replacement within 30 days.

• The repurchase price must be equal to the total contract price at the time of sale
• The repurchase price must include all sales tax
• The repurchase price must include the registration fee and excise tax paid by the buyer at the time the vehicle was purchased
• The repurchase price must include incidental expenses incurred by the consumer for towing and rental car caused by the nonconformity

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as legal advice. Please direct your specific questions to K&M attorneys and know more about your lemon law rights. If you want to pursue your lemon law claim, call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation. Or submit your information online for your free case evaluation.